Kleinfelder was engaged to provide geotechnical, environmental, and ecological assessment support inside and outside of the rail corridor’s 40ha site, as part of the $400 million intermodal freight terminal project.

Geotechnical Assessments

In-situ assessment of ground conditions across the project site were conducted to inform the design requirements of the project for crane footings, retaining walls, and pavement slab configuration. The geotechnical assessments were undertaken at 64 locations with the aid of a tracked drill rig and to depths of 10 meters below ground level
(m BGL) to obtain suitable information on the depth of rock and sufficient rock core samples.

Environmental and Ecological Assessments

Information from the in-situ assessments were also used to understand contamination risk of soil and groundwater, and ecological constraints.  Environmental soil samples were collected from 442 soil investigation locations at depths ranging from surface to a maximum depth of 0.5 m BGL with environmental assessment of groundwater being undertaken to target specific neighbouring features with a high potential for contamination at three locations to a depth of approximately 10 m BGL, based upon guidance provided in the National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM), Per-and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) NEMP, Australian Standard 4482.1, and various Victorian Environment Protection Authority guidelines.

Project Results

Kleinfelder assisted the project by mobilising multiple field personnel and several drill rigs which aided site investigation and reduced the subsequent reporting timeframes.

Through working across the project with both Acciona and Austrak, Kleinfelder was able to provide additional benefits, assisting with temporary earthworks designs and subgrade pavement designs.

Project Details

Location:
Somerton, Victoria

Owner:
Acciona Rail and Austrak